It snowed last night and this morning, giving us a white Christmas. That's an unusual event for Maryland â I think this is the first time in about 15 years. It was a wet snow, with big, fat flakes, the temperature just above freezing. It made everything pretty and white, and had the courtesy to melt on the roads so hardly anyone played bumper cars.
Our gifts are all opened now, treasures that were tucked under the tree, waiting patiently, most of them, for a couple weeks for someone to take possession. As usual, I put off my shopping until yesterday. I've grown rather portly, spending as much time in front of the computer as I do, and I've grown a beard, which came in more white than gray. I wore a red shirt and my Santa Claus hat. I brought my favorite pipe, and the entire get-up made me look much more like Santa than like Foster Brooks.
The malls were still pretty crowded, and a significant percentage of the crowds were children, shopping with their parents. I got many stares from the under-8 set, and when I saw them, I waved and said "hello!" Most of them responded, and a few even greeted me as Santa Claus.
That's the age that still believes. When they go back to school, and the older kids tell them there is no Santa Claus, they can say, "Yes, there is! I saw him at the mall and he waved to me and I said 'hi'!" Or so I like to think.
Curiously, I got far fewer stares and disappointingly few greetings, at Wal-Mart than I did at Macy's, Penney's, and the other more expensive stores. Is belief, even for very small children, an upscale thing? I hope not. When I was a child, our family was very poor, but still we believed in Santa Claus. I suspect that today it's not "kewl" for some people to tell their kids about the jolly old elf.
It's soon enough we lose our capacity for overt belief. But I think that it's pretty essential that before that time comes we have the certitude that Santa Claus will bring us nice things at Christmas because he cares whether we've been good little boys and girls, just like Mom and Dad do. If Santa Claus â a complete stranger, who lives at the north pole and hangs around with elves â cares that much about us, maybe we should care about each other just as much? That caring is what gives rise to the "spirit of Christmas," the "most wonderful time of the year."
I've read in the past few days that the forms of Christmas have spread to China and India and even Israel, where the rabbis warned that its observance would destroy people's Jewish identity. The Pope and, of course, all the usual suspects, have decried Christmas' crass commercialism and advocate a return to a more pristine form of observance.
The Chinese and the Indians are the ones who have the right idea. Christmas, contrary to what the ACLU, the rabbis, or the Pope, or even the Enemy, would like to think, has slipped the leash. It's no longer a strictly religious occasion. It's an idea that stands on its own, born of Christianity, but now independent of it. Buddhists and Hindus and Taoists and agnostics and atheists and even observant Jews can play, too. It's the time of year when we consciously love our fellow men, starting with family and friends, but expanding that circle to all those around us. It's not a gooey, Kumbaya-based thing, half ideology and half hippy smarm. It's a compound of pleasure that we all made it through the current year, with the buildup of optimism that the coming year will be better, and it's an occasion to appreciate each other for what we are: Moms, Dads, kids, grandparents, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and most of us perfectly nice people.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 02:59 pm ||
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Gawd bless us, every one!
"Tiny Tim"
have a good one everyone, we've been chilling out in front of the Telly watching DVDs and Discovery...
Posted by: Tony ||
12/25/2002 17:01 Comments ||
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Sen. Patty Murray hasn't resigned yet... When does the countdown start?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 11:45 pm ||
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Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., a potential Senate opponent in 2004, called Murray's comments "bizarre" and uninformed. "You have to wonder what country Sen. Murray has been living in since September 11th," he said.
Posted by: Richard ||
12/26/2002 0:29 Comments ||
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday said Iraq has been transferring banned weapons of mass destruction to Syria to try to escape UN inspections. From the Axis of Evil to the Axis of Almost as Evil...
Sharon made the remarks in an interview with the country's private Channel Two television station, saying the suspicion was based on unconfirmed information, which has no evidence to support yet. Israel is trying to verify the information. Certain parties in Damascus are already drafting their denials...
Syria, which took part in the 1991 Gulf War that drove Iraq from Kuwait, has since rebuilt ties with Baghdad after decades of rivalry. The Israeli allegation came as Iraq repeatedly stated that its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programme have already been destroyed while the United States has threatened to disarm Iraq by force if Baghdad does not obey concerned UN resolutions. "Destroyed, moved out of the country, same thing, right?"
FOLLOWUP:
Syria denied claims by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Iraq may be transferring chemical and biological weapons to Syria, saying Wednesday that the accusation aims to divert attention from Israel's arsenal. "This accusation against Syria is ridiculous because Syria signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and called all Arab states to make the Middle East clear of weapons of mass destruction whether nuclear, chemical or biological weapons," a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement faxed to The Associated Press in Damascus. "The only side that still stands against this call is Israel," the spokesman said. Toldja so. That call wasn't close to tough...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 11:01 pm ||
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In a Christmas eve message to Iraqis, President Saddam Hussein said his nation was ready for "martyrdom". "As much as Iraq loves life, its people are ready for martyrdom in the defence of its land and air space, its scantiness and future," Saddam said during an address televised on state-run television. Guess we're all in agreement on that, huh?
"The road to deter injustice, aggression and wickedness of the evil-minded is the road of jehad (holy war) and struggle," he said. "And not the road of compliance!"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 03:16 pm ||
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"The road to deter injustice, aggression and wickedness of the evil-minded is the road of jehad (holy war) and struggle," Saddam Hussein said.
The mood, however, was different at St Rafael's Catholic Church in downtown Baghdad, where about 120 people, including Iraqi Christians and American peace activists, came together for Christmas eve mass. "We're here to pray and sing for peace," said Elias Amidon, 58, a professor of environmental studies from Colorado. "The world has many diplomatic and non-violent means to solve its differences," he said. With fears building that America will wage war on Iraq, Amidon and other members of the US and British-based Iraq Peace Team have travelled to Baghdad to call for a peaceful solution to the crisis and have harsh economic sanctions imposed on Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War lifted. Good to see that the cannon fodder of the peace movement is now in Baghdad to show their solidarity with Sammy. You guys pray and sing for peace, and Sammy will take care of you after the war's been won.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 03:23 pm ||
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At least 28 rebel commanders have laid down their arms in Grozny. Chechen Prime Minister Mikhail Babich, his deputy Mousar Khamidov and senior law enforcement officials attended the ceremony on Wednesday. "Today's events were preceded by long and consistent efforts and talks conducted with militant commanders who were not involved in bloodshed, in keeping with Chechen administration head Akhmad Kadyrov's instructions. They expressed a desire to cease military actions," Babich pointed out. The event will have a huge impact on Chechnya's future, he added. Criminal cases will not be launched against those commanders who did not participate in abductions, murders or terrorist attacks. Moreover, 10 members of Ruslan Gelayev's armed formation recently laid down their arms, officials of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Department for Chechnya said. That's a nice little progress report. It's nice that the small to medium fry are surrendering, but it would be better if they took out Maskhadov and his Arabs.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 11:17 pm ||
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Seven men, all from Algeria, were charged in Edinburgh with preparing a terrorist attack, officials said. The seven, who were arrested six days ago in Edinburgh and London, were charged under Section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which deals with possession of articles "in circumstances which give rise to a reasonable suspicion" that they could be used for a terrorist attack. Ay, laddie! Algerians have much in common with Bonny Scotland! Why, haggis was invented in Lower Kabiliyeh, y'know? They just used different ingredients...
During an hour-long appearance behind closed doors at Edinburgh sheriff's court, the seven men "made no plea or declaration, and were remanded in custody," the Scottish Executive said in a press statement. "I ain't sayin' nuttin' til I talks wit' me mouthpiece!"
British news media said the seven were expected to reappear in court next Wednesday, when a trial date might be set.The seven were named by the Scottish Executive as Abdellah Abdelhafid, 33; Mourad Idir Abes, 27; Ghalem Belhadj, 36; Karim Benamghar, 31; Salah Moullef, 32; Hakim Ziem, 31; and Sofiane Lahamar Hassim Ziem, 29. Belhadj was identified by the Scottish Executive as "a prisoner in the prison of Kilmarnock," in Scotland. Abdelhafid's residence was given as West Ealing in London, that of Abes as Cowley in Oxford, while the others were said to live in Edinburgh. Stout Scots lads, all, except for the turbans...
The maximum penalty for offenses under section 57 of the Terrorism Act is 10 years in prison, plus fines. The seven had been arrested last Wednesday and detained in a high security unit at Govan police station in Glasgow. It was not immediately clear whether the arrests were connected with the detention the previous day of four men in the Paris area on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack. But one suspects, doesn't one?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 02:45 pm ||
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Al Qaeda "sleeper cells" in Canada and the United States have communicated with each other as recently as this month, probably to plan terrorist attacks in the United States, Canadian intelligence experts said yesterday. The disclosure came in the wake of the arrest last week of a pizza delivery man in Ottawa who is suspected of being associated with the terrorist network of Osama bin Laden.
Canadian authorities decided to arrest Mohamed Harkat, 34, shortly after he made calls to suspected al Qaeda members in the United States, said Reid Morden, former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, who has been in contact with the Canadian spy agency on the matter. Morden confirmed comments made earlier by Canadian officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
Canada's normally secretive spy agency alleged in a rare court filing that Harkat, 34, who was born in Algeria and has lived in Canada since 1995, is an associate of Abu Zubaida, one of Osama bin Laden's close associates. Zubaida, who was arrested in Pakistan in March and is in U.S. custody at an undisclosed location, identified Harkat to his interrogators, according to Canadian intelligence officials. Glad to see Abu's still blabbing. The nice part about tapping the phone records is that it shows where the calls went. Somebody owns those numbers. Those sombodies are probably pretty nervous right now. They might even be calling other Bad Guys.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 04:08 pm ||
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Two assailants dressed in women's clothes covered in burqas, a traditional women's garb, tossed a grenade at a small church during Christmas services in a Pakistani village Wednesday, killing three people and wounding 11 others, police said. All three of the dead and most of the wounded were women or girls, in the attack in the village of Chianwala, in Daska township about 40 miles northwest of Lahore, police said. At least one of the dead was a young girl, said Brig. Javed Cheema of the Interior Ministry. That's the kind of target Islamists like best...
About 40 people, mostly women and children and all Pakistanis, were attending a Christmas Day service at the church when the attack occurred Wednesday evening. The two attackers escaped after the attack, said Iftikhar Ahmed, spokesman for Pakistan Interior Ministry. Four of the injured were in critical condition, said Malik Mohammed Iqbal, chief of police in the nearby city of Gujranwala. It's that "religion of peace" thing. And "tolerance."
Witnesses said the attackers wore burqas, the traditional all-encompassing garment worn by women in some Islamic countries, said Amanat Ali, a police official in Daska. But it was unclear whether the attackers were women or disguised men. Ali said witnesses reported the attackers were taller than most women. Male Islamic militants in neighboring Afghanistan have worn burqas because they're into cross-dressing to hide their identities in at least one recent attack there. The bravery of the act just takes one's breath away, doesn't it?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 04:17 pm ||
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In eastern India, a gang armed with crude bombs attacked a Protestant church on Christmas Eve, wounding six people and robbing hundreds of worshippers. The 20 assailants set off several bombs, then grabbed valuables from the congregation and raided a church safe before fleeing when officers arrived. And Merry Christmas to you, too, you rat bastards!
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 10:53 pm ||
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Dialogue between the Egyptian authorities and the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement Hamas kicked off yesterday December 24. Hamas accuses elements inside Fatah Movement of placing [obstacles] to hamper inter-Palestinian dialogue. Osama Hamdan, a member of the Hamas delegation, reaffirmed that the movement would not go public with the names of those it accuses of stymieing the dialogue. "We are not trying to personalize the issue but we have talked to the Egyptian side about this principle," he added. "We're just bitching to be on record, because when the talks break down we'll be able to blame them..."
In exclusive statements to IslamOnline, Hamdan said the dialogue with the Egyptian side afforded detailed discussions on the agenda of the second round of dialogue which will only involve Hamas and Fatah. The Hamas official underlined, however, that the proposed agenda does not include an item on halting martyr operations against the Israeli occupation. If Hamas doesn't send out people to explode, it just won't be Hamas, will it?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 02:45 pm ||
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Amazing. Hamas is a "Palestinian Islamic resistance movement"?
The words "terrorist organization" would be more accurate. At any rate, at least they're honest enough to admit that they're Islamic. Religion of peace, indeed.
CAIRO - Al-Azhar House of Fatwa has issued a fatwa that it is a religious obligation for Muslim countries to possess nuclear weapons and other developed arms with the purpose of defending themselves, deterring the enemies and staving off any aggression from countries that possess similar weapons. Allah Almighty urges the Muslim Ummah to have the necessary means of power and logistics that are capable of securing its interests, and preserving its sanctity against any violation, said the fatwa. Yep. There's no other way...
With these necessary measures in effect, the whole Ummah will stand erect and will undoubtedly put fear in the hearts of its enemies, who leave no stone unturned in encroaching on the whole Ummah and backing all Muslims into a corner, it added. The fatwa recalled that Quran urges the Ummah to be fully aware of its enemies in order to enable Muslims to prepare and to have at least equal means of deterrence, if not greater means. It's the only way for Islamists to regain their lost honor, isn't it?
Sheikh Alaa El-Shanawihi, member of Al-Azhar House of Fatwa, asserted that when Islam orders Muslims to equip themselves with modern means of deterrence, its aim is not to tell Muslims to make mischief on the earth but to dismay the enemy of Allah. "We can do anything we want, as long as we have these babies!"
Responding to a similar question on how Islam views possession of nukes, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, former president of the Islamic Society of North America, stressed that the issue of a states possessing weapons does not need much attention as does the point of how these weapons are used and utilized. He underlined that Islam calls for the preservation of environment and this includes purging the universe of all what may harm it. Islam is the religion of peace: peace in life of the individual, family and society, he said, adding that Islam stands for the peace among the people and communities and peace in the whole world. Hand me that barf bag, please...
He underlined, however, that Islam is also the religion of strength. And might makes right...
Islam is aware that the world in which we live is not the ideal world and that there are forces of evil and corruption in this world, said the scholar. He stressed that Muslims should be on their guard and should be strong, so that they are not attacked, asserting that Islam views strength as the greatest deterrence of war. If Muslims are strong, (their) enemies will think many times before attacking them, he added. If Muslims preferred reason to jihad, their enemies wouldn't think at all of attacking them, would they? Come to think of it, they wouldn't have any.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 03:42 pm ||
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Al-Azhar House of Fatwa? Do they have an After Ramadan sale? "Show your "Religion of Peace" membership card and get 50% off!"
Jakarta Post
Abu Bakar Ba'asyir [Bashir], the alleged spiritual head of Jemaah Islamiah who is under police custody, has sent a letter to the National Police chief protesting the refusal of his request to attend Friday prayers, Trans TV reported. One of Ba'asyir lawyers, Ahmad Khalid, said the refusal was illegal and a form of discrimination against Ba'asyir. "They should have been worried if it was Ja'far Umar Thalib (leader of the dispersed Laskar Jihad Muslim militia who was also detained at the same place), because he's still young, while where is Ba'asyir going to run?" Ahmad said. If you don't pray in public, with The Boyz, it doesn't work. God never strikes your enemies dead or destroys Australia if you pray in private.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 02:45 pm ||
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IslamOnline
Bloody clashes between police and protesters in Hat Yai last Friday night, December 20, did not stop the decision by the Thai government to go ahead with the Thailand-Malaysia gas pipeline. Thai observers described last Friday's clashes between around 1000 demonstrators and police as appalling, adding that the more horrifying thing was the arrogant reaction of Thai leaders. Infidels aren't allowed to be arrogant around the Master Religion...
The confrontation left nearly 100 anti-gas pipeline protesters and 16 policemen injured. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra blamed the protesters and quickly sided with the police. National police Chief Sant Sarutanond, laughing in front of TV cameras, justified the use of force by saying the protesters were carrying "weapons", Bangkok Post reported. When they're carrying "weapons" it's to "intimidate" people who don't agree with them. Or people who just aren't Muslims...
The Thai-Malay gas pipeline project seems hit by glitches that have stopped its progression since its inception in 1999. Marred by protests and a refusal by the authorities to consider the environmental impact of the lives of millions in the Thai southern region, the project will go ahead, Thaksin said. The project is worth $500 million and is very important in Thai-Malay relations; it is one of the major projects between both nations that have the complete support of Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad. Presumably, the Thai and Malay governments have sat down and considered what the impact will be and what the benefits will be, and decided to go ahead with the project, since the benefits will outweigh the detriment. That's usually what governments do.
Thai villagers from Chana, who were reportedly against the project, are mostly Muslims. Women were also present in the protests. The brazen hussies! Why weren't they home with their children! I'll bet they weren't even fully veiled!
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 02:45 pm ||
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Islam Online
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denied quick accusations of a bomb blast Tuesday, December 24, in southern Philippines killing at least 13 people. "Nope. Nope. Wudn't us..."
The incident killed the Muslim Mayor Saudi Ampatuan of Datu Piang town. It happened just three days after his younger brother Hofer was killed in a shootout during a bikini competition at a hotel in Cotabato, Inq7 news agency reported Wednesday, December 25. I always told Hofer to stay away from those bikini competitions, and now you see what's happened!
Saudi Ampatuan died of injuries to his head and abdomen at the Notre Dame Hospital. Three of the other fatalities were identified as Datu Piang municipal treasurer Nasut Macapendeg, councilor Rodolfo Wahab and a certain Imampaden Mastura Ismael, all Muslims. But the question is, did some guy in a cheap turban decide they were apostates and hypocrites, and issue a fatwa? Just calling yourself a Muslim isn't enough these days...
The home made bomb that exploded in the compound of the mayor, featured a timing device and two mortar shells. The military was quick to blame the attack on the MILF, alleged to be against the mayor. However, the MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied any involvement, saying that the Datu Piang mayor had many personal and political enemies. "Many of these enemies keep mortar bombs lying around, just in case..."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/25/2002 02:52 pm ||
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HAVANA â Out of the public eye for more than a week, President Fidel Castro told Cubans in a letter published Wednesday that he is recovering from a serious infection caused by a bug bite to his left leg.
"I am fine, dear compatriots, and I feel more optimistic than ever about the future of the Revolution," the 76-year-old leader wrote in the letter, entitled "Chronicle of Repose" and published on the front page of the Communist Party daily Granma.
The letter was the first public word about Castro's current illness since Saturday, when he excused himself from a session of the National Assembly, Cuba's parliament, saying doctors had ordered him to rest following an unspecified injury in his leg.
The health of Castro, who is regularly seen in public several times a week, is a constant source of speculation by Cuba watchers. Persistent rumors of ailments -- including prostate cancer, heart troubles, Parkinson's disease and stroke -- have circulated for years.
Castro's designated successor is his 71-year-old brother, Raul Castro, Cuba's defense minister.
Castro, who has ruled Cuba for nearly 44 years, said in the letter that the infection began after he began scratching a bug bite on the lower part of his left leg the night of Dec. 16. Funny, wasnt it Michael jackson that was just sidelined by a "bug bite", I wonder what the gloved one looks like dressed in fatigues and a fake beard.
Castro said he followed doctors' instructions to keep the leg elevated and apply cold compresses when resting and continued with his regular work schedule. But by the morning of Dec. 19 the bite was bothering him more.
Doctors informed him that he had a staphylococcus infection and ordered more cold compresses, antibiotics and -- to his dismay -- bed rest. So much for the vaunted socialist medical system, stymied by a simple thing like a infection.
"I didn't have any other alternative but to resign myself," wrote Castro. He begrudgingly then canceled a Friday night appearance at the anniversary celebration of the Federation of University Students and a Saturday morning session of the National Assembly.
"It was my duty to protect my beloved left leg," he wrote. "With it, I have practiced many sports, including soccer, have run in races, jumped, swam, climbed mountains. ..."
"It had never betrayed me," the Cuban leader wrote of his left leg. "I couldn't betray it now."
Doctors who initially prescribed three of four days of bedrest later extended that to a week but now "it will be a very short time before my left leg is totally new again," Castro wrote.
He did not say, however, exactly when he would be back at work.
Even though Castro has slowed somewhat in recent years, his stamina is legendary. He is said to keep an unusually busy schedule even for a head of state, often staying up all night to meet with visitors, or to study government reports.
Because of that reported indefatigability, the nation was stunned in late June 2001 when Castro suffered a brief fainting spell during a live televised speech before a crowd of tens of thousands of people.
People gasped and wept openly at the political rally before Castro returned a few minutes later to show them he was "entero" -- all in one piece. Hopefully Santa brought "El Jefe" a big pair of pliers this year to pull that bug out of his ass
Posted by: Frank Martin ||
12/25/2002 10:36 pm ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
